The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, "Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I'm all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run."

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance's expression regained its composure. "So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?"

Jasper shook his head. "Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss."

Vance straightened up. "What's on your mind?"

"The ancient warrior lineage."

Vance's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

"Surprised, huh?" Jasper chuckled. "I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission."

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. "Jasper, just lay your cards on the table."

moment, Percival handed Vance a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Vance, Jasper here wants a slice of our partnership pie.

Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior

out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the Perez and Martinez families sometimes

were not merely vengeful. "You want

unsure where he was headed with

Noah, did anything

be off? GTO managed to hide a mole in the Vanguard

six decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children

the others

difference

inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let Noah gain merit, his

even Yorick never

ancient warrior lineage to seize power all these years without

It dawned on Vance.

have been pulling strings

that someone within

chilling, and Vance could not help but break out in

"My mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were from the ancient warrior lineages. There's

voice lowered. "You're right. When I first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too. We

suspected for years that Ulysses had not perished when his family

discreetly, using his position within the

have predicted that when he finally tracked down the location of the Emerald Monastery, he would discover that someone was after Finnian's life. Knowing he was no match

had succumbed to illness, leaving behind nothing

on, no word came